Lake Land College student honored with Paul Simon Adult Education Student of the Year Award - Lake Land College, Mattoon Illinois

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Lake Land College student honored with Paul Simon Adult Education Student of the Year Award

The Illinois Community College Board recently awarded Lake Land College student Shawna Enloe with the Paul Simon Adult Education Student of the Year Award.

Enloe was presented with her award at the annual Illinois Adult and Continuing Educators Association conference on March 7.

Enloe is a student at the Lake Land College Adult Education Center, who recently completed the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Program and passed the Illinois Department of Public Health certification examination. Through an Accelerating Opportunities Initiative, Enloe was dually enrolled in the CNA program and GED classes. Enloe is preparing for her GED exam, which she hopes to receive this spring.

For Enloe, returning to school to earn a GED and career certificate has been a life-changing experience, as she has two children of her own, is raising three of her sisters children and is caring for her mother.

“When I was growing up, I never even envisioned that college was an option for me,” said Enloe. “No one I knew went to college. I thought it just wasn’t for people like me.”

Before enrolling at Lake Land, Enloe said that she would question her academic ability and often thought she wasn’t smart enough to succeed. But after beginning her programs and with the support of the Lake Land College faculty and staff, Enloe said that she has seen a change in herself, becoming more confident and strong willed

“I know now that I can accomplish those tasks I set my mind to, and a big part of that comes from the encouragement I receive from the employees here at Lake Land,” she explained.

This is the first time a Lake Land College student has received this award.

For more information about the Adult Education Center at Lake Land College, visit: www.lakeland.cc.il.us/as/ade/index.cfm.